Whole Towns Coming Together for All Students: A Growth & Justice Education Policy Report
Historical precedent is strong in rural and Greater Minnesota for vigorous and inclusive community involvement in educational success for all. Despite economic challenges and increasing racial diversity, evidence shows the effectiveness of community engagement and points to a revival in such activity across the nation. This new Growth & Justice report describes how many communities across Minnesota are coming together in purposeful and energetic ways to plan for greater success for all students.
Smart Investments in Transportation for Minnesota: Goals and Targets to Spur Growth and Expand Prosperity State and local governments in Minnesota need to adopt innovative policies and approaches to ensure a transportation system that is efficient, accessible, cost-effective and reliable, according to a Growth & Justice report on Smart InvestmentsSM in Transportation for Minnesota: Goals and Targets to Spur Growth and Expand Prosperity.
“Fiscal constraints and environmental concerns are forcing creative thinking about smart approaches to transportation. We can’t just do more of the same,” said Matt Kane, director of policy and research for Growth & Justice, speaking to state legislators, Met Council members, business people, transportation advocates and others at a policy forum on October 27, where the report was released. Drawing upon research into critical transportation challenges and evidence of positive impacts, Growth & Justice presents four goals for what Minnesota should accomplish with its investments in transportation:
improve travel time and efficiency for freight,
better connect low-income Minnesotans to jobs and other important destinations,
improve travel and travel choices for Minnesotans, and
reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation.
Dane Smith, president of Growth & Justice, stresses the importance of investing in children and education from cradle to career. Using examples from Itasca County, Cook County and Willmar, Dane shows the impact of education and participation on a community.
Growth & Justice is a leading progressive voice on state economic issues. We are a non-partisan advocate for fair taxation and "smart" public investment — fiscally responsible, accountable investment that advances prosperity for all Minnesotans. We believe a sustainable economy provides the foundation for a just society.
Before you buy the story about Minnesota's high taxes, read this One of my pastimes is following coverage of tax issues across Minnesota, which means every so often, a letter to the editor like this one pops up in my email. Here's the money paragraph: [W]hen comparing states with similar geographic...
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